Vortex Viper- quick review

[BrentM]

I have a NF NXS 5.5-22x56 NPR1. My buddy got a Vortex Viper PST 5-20x50 MOA. I think I got the specs right anyway. He got the scope for less than 700.

For the money this scope is awesome. There are a few features I like about the NF better; better eye relief, HS turrents, and NPR1 reticle. However, the Viper has just as good of glass and functions on par with my NF. I was looking at getting second scope that I can mount on the 204 and 3006 for more LR rifle fun, and I think this is the route I want to go.

Has anyone experienced problems with the Viper line of Vortex LR scopes?

 

[yobuck]

I have a NF NXS 5.5-22x56 NPR1. My buddy got a Vortex Viper PST 5-20x50 MOA. I think I got the specs right anyway. He got the scope for less than 700.

For the money this scope is awesome. There are a few features I like about the NF better; better eye relief, HS turrents, and NPR1 reticle. However, the Viper has just as good of glass and functions on par with my NF. I was looking at getting second scope that I can mount on the 204 and 3006 for more LR rifle fun, and I think this is the route I want to go.

Has anyone experienced problems with the Viper line of Vortex LR scopes?

my son bought one about a year ago. i believe his is a 6x24 version.
when we installed the scope the windage wouldnt work during sight in.
a call to the dealer (euro optic) brought a quick responce from a factory rep.
he told us we had tightened the rings too tight. i bought a torque wrench and
reset the screws at 15 inch pounds and the scope worked fine. so far it appears to do all you could ask for. but be aware they could have thinner tubes than say a night force.

 

[Hunter02]

A Viper PST 6-24x50 would have a 30mm tube. Not sure what NF's eye relief is, but the PST lineup has 4" across the board.

 

[SidecarFlip]

A Viper PST 6-24x50 would have a 30mm tube. Not sure what NF's eye relief is, but the PST lineup has 4" across the board.

That board is warped....lol

They have 4" of ocular relief but it's at minimum magnification. With any scope, no matter what the price point, as you increase magnification, ocular relief decreases and FOV (field of view) decreases as well. Thats how it works.

When any scope seller quotes eye relief, it's always at minimum magnification.

In as much as I have 3 Vipers mounted on various rifles. I have no issue with eye relief at any magnification. Just be apprised that the chance for a black eye increases with magnification and firearm recoil.

Additionally, to say that a Viper is as clear as a Night Force or a Night Force is as clear as a Schmidt and Bender is entirely subjective because each person's eyes are different so each person 'sees' differently, one reason the ocular is adjustable, to 'fine tune' it to an individual's sight perception.

A blanket statement about this is clearer or as clear as that, is purely subjective.

 

[Hunter02]

I understand eye relief, and when i say across the board, i am referring to the entire line up of PST's.

And what you say is that is warped. Its not the eye relief changing, its how finicky the eye box is. It stays at 4" regardless of how technical you want to get. I can keep my head in the exact same spot and have a full sight picture throughout the entire mag range.

 

[BrentM]

I found on the higher mag setting the Vortex was much less forgiving and required me to scootchy my eyebrow much closer to the scope to get the best view. The NF was better in this aspect for me in both cases. If I were to set it at the max mag and view the target then back the scope off I too could see fine through entire range of mag. The same goes with the NF but it has a longer ER from my perspective behind both scopes. The biggest difference was finding center on the vortex was more difficult. I found at a few less mag range it was better and I was more comfortable.

Both scopes in the lower light of the day produced very favorable results. I compared both at 12x in the last hour of light at 840 yards. Differences in the two were minimal.

 

[MHO]

My two cents, For the money you cant beat the vortex pst 6-24-50. I own many. I also own a few nightforce scopes. At longer distance though 600 plus, I think the nightforce has an edge. Again just my two cents.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I understand eye relief, and when i say across the board, i am referring to the entire line up of PST's.

So am I. I have a 4.5-16 and 2 6.5-24 50's among others.

And what you say is that is warped. Its not the eye relief changing, its how finicky the eye box is. It stays at 4" regardless of how technical you want to get. I can keep my head in the exact same spot and have a full sight picture throughout the entire mag range.

You sure about that??? Read the post following yours. Thats what occurs when you crank up the magnification. Eye relief never stays constant, it can't because the internal focal length changes with magnificatikon increases.

If the eye relief stayed constant no one would ever get a black eye no matter how much recoil the weapon produced.

 

[BrentM]

MHO, good feed back. I was hoping for someone to chime in who has both and uses both.

 

[Hunter02]

Yes I am sure, I had the scope in front of me and went through the entire mag range (starting on the lowest) and did not have to move my head what so ever to get the full sight picture. In my mind that is the definition of staying consistent. And look at there specs on there line up for the PST's. They are listed at a consistent 4". Not a range like the Viper's, Diamondbacks, and Crossfire's. If you were referring to the Viper's, you are correct. If you have to move your head closer because you are going up in magnification, you mounted your scope incorrectly. I think first hand experience trumps your scientific explanation. I will agree it is less forgiving at higher end magnification, but the eye relief is not changing.

 

[Hunter02]

And I'm sure there are plenty of people that can get a black eye just from poor shooting form, not lack of eye relief.

 

[ShootnMathews]

THats why when I mount my scope I always set it to my eye on the max power. Then it will be comfortable at any power.

 

[B-P-UU]

Hunter02, try an experiment for me.. with your PST at 6x, slide your head back on your stock as far as you can while still maintaining a full sight picture. Once you reach the point where your sight picture starts to 'black out' on the edges, stop (this is the max eye relief). Now, with your head in the same position as stated above, run your scope through the magnification range. You will notice your sight picture start to black out as you increase the zoom. In order to get a full sight picture again at max zoom (24x), you would have to slide your head/eye forward on the stock towards the ocular lense.

As SideCarFlip was implying, this happens with all scopes. You just don't notice on your particular setup since your scope is setup such that your head/eye is in an optimal position (full sight picture throughout the magnification range).

Yes I am sure, I had the scope in front of me and went through the entire mag range (starting on the lowest) and did not have to move my head what so ever to get the full sight picture. In my mind that is the definition of staying consistent. And look at there specs on there line up for the PST's. They are listed at a consistent 4". Not a range like the Viper's, Diamondbacks, and Crossfire's. If you were referring to the Viper's, you are correct. If you have to move your head closer because you are going up in magnification, you mounted your scope incorrectly. I think first hand experience trumps your scientific explanation. I will agree it is less forgiving at higher end magnification, but the eye relief is not changing.